by Pastor Cecil | Jan 2, 2019 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
I am greatly disturbed by what I observe in our modern world. Fundamentals are being sacrificed for the sake of fads. The gospel is being replaced by gadgets. Spirituality is being traded for superficiality. Discipleship is being bartered for dependency.
This new wave of immorality appears to have little impact on some main line churches. They seem to have little concern just so long as their supporters keep sending money to their ministries. Entire groups of churches have the notion that their decisions hold priority over the infallible Word of God.
I am here to say that if the Bible says something is a sin—it’s a sin. No amount of ecclesiastical mumbo jumbo can replace what God has spoken. Now we are being subjected to efforts to form a one-world church. The book of Revelation will open your eyes to the pitfall such an organization presents.
So what are we to do—individually—as well as collectively? PRAY! Not in pride but in humility. We need to pray and come to the Lord in humility as we confess our individual and collective sins. Let’s obey God and follow Him!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 1, 2019 | Malachi
Malachai 3:3
“He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.”
I have often heard the expression; If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen! The same is even more applicable to a refiner of silver. The refiner of silver sits in front of the refining fire to watch the intense heat burn away the impurities.
It is essential in the refining process for the silversmith to stay in front of the fire at all times without taking his eyes off the silver. If the silver were to be left in the intense heat for a moment too long the silver would be destroyed. The only way for the silversmith to know when the silver was fully refined was when he can see his own image reflected in it.
All too often we try to escape the fire of God’s refining oven rather than to allow Him to have control to determine when He is able to see His image reflected back. It is not easy for us to endure the heat of God’s refining fire, but the result is that we will become like Him.
As we begin 2019, may we be yielded to God’s refining fire. Not our will Lord, but Thy will be done in us!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 31, 2018 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
I recall an old saying; If you are not standing on the promises, you’ll just find yourself sitting on the premises. The gripers, moaners, and fault finders of the world, are generally composed of those who are the “sitters on the premises.” If you are one of them, I hope to serve you your eviction notice.
Have you ever asked someone how they doing and hear the response; Pretty good under the circumstances. I often will respond by asking them what they are doing under there.
So, what is Peter saying in this passage? He says that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him. I don’t know what everything means where you live, but in my mind it means the whole ball of wax!
Just take God at His word and start applying His word to your situation and thank Him for the victory. It is all from Him, and for Him, and to Him. Refuse to take credit for what God does through us and praise His mighty name!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 28, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 90:1-2
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
This week’s hymn by Isaac Watts is a paraphrase of Psalm 90. It originally consisted of nine stanzas. In present day usage, however, the hymn is usually limited to stanzas; one, two, three, five, and nine.
The hymn was originally part of; The Psalms of David Imitated in the language of the New Testament, published by Watts in 1719.
It has often been sung for special occasions in England. For instance it was sung in 1941, at a religious service on board HMS Prince of Wales, attended by Sir Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt as part of the conference creating the Atlantic Charter. It was also sung at the Funeral service for Winston Churchill in 1965.
O God, Our Help In Ages Past
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
To enjoy this free inspirational video: O God, Our Help in Ages Past, go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/ogodourhelpinagespast/
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 27, 2018 | Psalm
Psalm 51:10
“Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
How clean are you? Do you possess a steadfast spirit? Are you open to the Lord doing the work that only He can do to mold you into the person He desires for you to be in serving Him?
How many unintentional spiritual failures have you experienced just because you became too busy with worldly pursuits? Let me ask yet another penetrating question. Have you ever made a commitment to someone, then after days, weeks, or even months, realize that you have failed to follow through? (It’s getting a little uncomfortable isn’t it!)
It is easy to see the faults of others while at the same time ignoring our own short comings. I think that the more easily we find fault in others, the easier it is to overlook the lack of trust in our own lives. There have been many times that people have disappointed me by saying one thing and then doing another. I want to strive to never allow that to be true of me.
I always want to take my hurts to the foot of the cross and leave them there with the One who is rejected by so many. My desire is to live more like Him every day. With the help of the Lord we can be more like Him by committing ourselves to learn more about Him from His Word.
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
